Motor lamp



May 5, 1925.

A. C. WOOD MOTOR LAMP Filed Sept. 2, 1921 i i Application filed iseptemher Patented May i,

ARTHTIR'CI'IARLESWVOOD, 0F lllihNSFIi'JLD, OHIO.

MOTOR LAME.

"1 o all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, AIR'IIIL'UR CHARLES llhion. a subject of Great Britain, residing at lrlanstield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Motor Lamps, of which the following-is specification.

This invention relates to means for controlling the light rays ott reflector lamps. It is Well known to those skilled in the art of constructing lamps, head lights or the like, especially for use on motor cars, that an intense glare is projected into "the eyes of an oncoming driver h-lind-ing his vision, unless means are provided within the control of the driver of theoncoming car to dim the lights or to change the direc tion of the projection of the light rays emitting therefrom. The conventional type of tilting reflectors which are designed to prevent bhnchng efl'ect on the vision of the driver of the oncoming car, performs this :liunction with more or less etliciency and disadvantages.

it is well 'kDGDWH also to those skilled in the art that in tilting the reflector alter it isjinoved to prevent the-glare into the eyes-oi an oncoming driver that the light rays gradually spread out laterally or expand ,to a critical point before dimming dissipating or produci-i-ig W hatis termed a black spot on the road ahead of the car making it ditlicult to see objects on the road bed at a certain required distance from the car.

The primary objectof the present invention therefore to provide means and mechanism applicable to the conventional or similar type of reflect-or lamp to tiltsame to a pro-determined point independent of the light source and at such pro-determined point move the light source and further tilt the reflector sin'uiltaneously thereWi-tln thereby preserving the focus of the light with respect to the reflector and maintaining the intensity of the glare so as to prevent its dissipation or dimming and the resultant dark spot on the road ahead ol the car which is incident to the use or operation of a reflector that istilted independent of the focus of the light source.

Inother Words it is the objectof the present invention to tilt the reflector independent of the light source to obtain its greatest lateral spreader expansion Without dimming or dissipating the glare of the light projected ahead of the car and When 2, 1921 lSeria1 No. 497,861.

flector and moving the reflector andthe light source sinniltaneously thereby main- 69 taming the same relative position of the light source and reflector, retaining the same intensity of the projecting rays of light by inaintaining the same focus of the light source with respect :to the reflector, irre- :spective of the further tilted position of the reflector contracting and concentracting the rays of light on the road aheadjol the car.

A further object is to provide adjustable .means for focusing the light source with respect to the axial opening ()l"C(5l1tl Zll.-p0 ]i' tion of the reflector.

Another object is to provide means oil" imparting unison or simultaneous movement to the light source and reflector at any point of the tilting movement or position of the reflector. i

A further object is to provide means for tilting the reflector from normal position to no glare position, and tinally the object of the present invention is to provide means that will comply with the tests of the dimming and anti-glare statutes or laws of the State oi Ohio and other States which require among other things full illumination and projection of the light rays ahead of the motor car a certain number of feet when the reflector is in normal position or in full glare, lull illumination for a certain number of feet ahead of "the car When the reflector is tilted to no-glare position and means to control the rays of light troni the reflector to project below the vision or eyes oi a driver of an oncoming car.

These and other objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in the acco1npany-i-ng drawing in which Fig. l, is a longitudinal view partly in section of a lamp or head ligiht in normal position showing thereto. a

Fig. 2, is an enlarged longit dinal section of a part of the lainp sliou'iug the means of adjusting the hell crank contact. that moves thelight source in unison with the reflector when tilting movement is imparted thereto; i

Fig. 3, is a rear elevation of Fig. '1, Sl1OW- ing operating crank shaft and means of sup porting the lamp socket holder.

The drawing shows the preferred form and the application thereof to a conven:

the invention applied tional type of motor car head light, lamp or the like.

Referring to the drawings reference numeral 1 represents the casing of the lamp, 2 the glass cover plate and 8 the annular holding means or beaded ring. The re tlector t is hinged at the top as indicated by the hinge 5 and is adapted to be tilted rearwardly for the purpose described when desired by the operator.

An axial opening 6 preferably elongated is formed in the center of reflector. The reflector is tilted rearwardly by any well known manner. The means shown in the drawing comprises the following instrumentalities and in applying same an ear '1' is fastened to the reflector in any well known manner. A link 8 is pivoted thereto supporting a link lever 9 which is mounted upon and fastened rigidly to a rotatable shaft 10. The shaft is journaled on a hearing secured to the auxiliary casing which extends into a pocket 12 formed by an auxiliary casing 11.

The aforementioned mechanism operates as follows: The operator imparts movement to the lever 14 or the like tilting the reflector a when it is desired to attain the objects of the invention. A compressed coil spring 15 is attached to the casing 1 and the reflector exerting its pressure or tension to retain and return the reflector to its rearward or tilted no-glare position or safety position.

A bracket 16 is supported on the casing near the axial opening 6 of the reflector preferably by the bolts 17 and 18 and the threaded ends thereof engage threaded apertures formed in the supporting bracket and pass through apertures in the casing leaving the heads of the bolts extending beyond the exterior of the casing. Expansible springs 19 and 20 are interposed between the casing and bracket exerting a pressure or tension against the casing and bracket, thereby maintaining the supporting bracket in proper position with respectto the axial opening 6 of the reflector and at the same time pern'iitting adjustment of the screws 17 and 18 for focusing purposes.

he supporting bracket 16 is preferably provided with a socket. member 21 which. preferably depends downwardly in angular relation to the opening 6 of the reflector 4; and is provided with alongitudinal slotr A lamp socket holder 23 having an angularly related socket member 24: is provided. The angularly related socket member 24; is telescopically fitted to the socketmember 21 and is adapted to slide within said socket member. The sliding movement of the member 24 is giiiided and controlled by a pin 25 which projects into a slot 22 formed in the socket member 21 and it also limits its longitudinal movement in either direction. The light source 26 which in the drawing is represented by an incandescent electric globe is connected to the socket holder 23 through the medium of a bayonet joint or the like 27. The socket holder 23 is provided with a downwardly projecting contact member 28 which projects from the socket holder in angular relation thereto and in substantial alignment with the center of the angularly related parts 2 1 and 21.

A bracket 29 is located directly underneath the contact member 28 and is attached to the reflector 4. A bell crank lever 30 is pivotally journaled to the bracket 29 by means of a pin 81, leaving one end projecting upwardly and in close proximity to the contact member 28 and the other end projects downwardly and it is threadably connected to an adjustable screw 32 and is held in any adjusted position by the lock nut 88. The bell crank lever can be adjusted as shown in Fig. 2, to and from the dotted line position indicated at 3a in Fig. 2.

The above describes the preferred mechanism used to apply the. invention to a con ventional typ of lamp or headlight for motor cars. The operation is as follows: The incandescent lamp 26 is secured to the socket 23 and properly focused with relation to the reflector by adjusting the screws 17 and 18 which support the bracket 16 and the socket members 21 and 24. \Vhen the incandescent light is properly focused with respect to the reflector and the reflector is in normal position as shown in Fig. 1, the rays of light are directed on the road bed directly ahead of the motor car illuminating the road bed the required or pre-dctermined distance ahead of the car which is governed or regulated by the focus of the lightin its relation to the reflector and the candle power of the light source or incandescent bulb. lVhen the reflector is in normal position the rays of light or glare will project into the eyes of the driver of an oncmning car and blind his vision. In the normal. position the reflector projects the light rays ahead of the automobile giving the driver of a, car equipped with the present invention full, complete, intense illumination and glare ahead of his car, but the light rays ordinarily glare into the eyes of the driver of an oncoming car. To provide for the safety of an oncoming or approaching car and driver and to comply with various State dimming or no glare laws, the intensity of the glare must be dimmed or the rays of light directed away from the eyes or vision of the driver of the OllOOlTllllfQ car. To accomplish these objects the operator of the present device, in the first instance manipulates the lever 14 which actuates the connecting mechanism to tilt the reflector 1, thereby tilting the reflector rearward, independent of the incandescent bulb ahead before changing the direction of the projection of the rays of light downwardly on the road bed and away from the eyes or visioniof the driver of an oncoming car.

The tilting movement described otrthereflector independent. of the light source is continued by the operator untiil apredetermined tilt-ed position of the reflector is reached which position is preferably determined to he the position at which the spread or expansion of light commence to dim, diminish or is dissipated in intensityior glare producing what is termed :a black spot with respect to the illumination of the road bed ahead of thecar making it dill cult to see objects on theroad bed. Just prior to the time that tilting reflector reaches the full spread or enp'ansi'on of its rays oit' lilgh t without dimming, or dissipating the light or producing the lola'c'k spot the contact member 28 is brought and forced to con tact with the bell crank lever--30 moving the light source and reflector together in unison simultaneously therewith, thereby venting the dimmin or dissioating -ot'the rays lot light or production or t re black spot on the road bed.

Moving the light source sinniitaneously nin unison with the reflector contracts the hays of light and intensifies its glare as the .re

flector is moved or tilted further rearwardly from the first tilted position. In movlng the light source and reflector. in unison or simultaneously from a pro-determined point, the position of the light source in relation to the reflector is then maintained, thereby preventing the dissipation dimming of thelight from the critical point of the expansion or spread due to the first tilted position of the reflector.

It will be observed that the tilting reflector 4 can be moved. to certain or predetermined tilt-ed position, independent of a light source and at such pro-determined position the bell crank is adjusted to contact with the contact piece 28, moving the light source simultaneously or in unison with the reflector.

The adjustment of the contact piece to opcrate th light source and reflector simultaneously is accomplished by the adjustment of the screw The tilting mechanism of the reflector is limited in its rearward movement after actuation by the screw 35.

Reference numeral 36 represents a conventional socket to con-duct an electric current to the incandescent bulb or light source. It is not intended in the Within specification to confine the presentinvention to the spe oifi'c means or mechanism shown in the drawings as immaterial alterations or modifications may be made IO accomplish the objects herein set out without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 claim.

.l. A method of controlling the light rays Ofzfl reflector lamp, consisting in changing-the filo cal relation of the light source-and reflector whilechanging the directirof the light rays, then fixing the t'ocal relation of the light source and reflector to prevent further-change in such focal relation during further change in the direction of the light rays.

A method or" controlling the liiht rays of a reflector lamp, consisting in changing the direction oi such light rays with respect to the horizontal, changing the focal relation ofth e reflector and light source during a portion of such direction change, and lining the focal relation of the reflector and light source during the remainder oi such direction change, whereby in the start of such direction change the light rays are diffused and such diffusion is maintained as a constant without change during further change in the direction of the light rays.

3. A lamp including a casing, a i-etlec tor, and a light source, with means whereby the reflector may be tilted independently oi the light source to client the light rays and "change the (focal relation of the light source mounting of the light source permitting reflector movement to cause a diffusion oi the rays from the light source during a predetermined tilting movement of the reflector, and means to cause the light source and reflector to move as a unit during further tilting of the reflector, to thereby n'iaintain the predetermined light diii'usion :for the final tilting movement of the reflector.

5. A lamp including a casing, a reflector, and a light source, means for tilting the re flector to affect the light rays, said light source renlaining fixed during a portion of such tilting movement of the reflector to cause a predetermined diffusion of the light rays, and means whereby the light source and reflecting move as a unit following a predetermined change from their initial relation, to thereby maintain a fixed diffusion.

6. Alamp including a casing, a reflector, and a light source, means for simultaneously changing the direction of the light rays and diffusion of their projection, and means for interrupting the varying diffusion at a predetermined point without aflecting the continued change in direction of such light rays.

7. A lamp including a casing, a reflector, and a light source, means for changing the direction of the light rays, and means permitting a diflusion of such light rays during a portion of such change in direction less than the full change in direction movement, whereby the light is changed in direction and diffused, with the diffusion ter minating at a predetermined point.

8. A lamp including a casing, a reflector, and a light source, means for tilting the reflector, a mounting for the light source, and means to permit a limited tilting of the re flector without aflecting the light source mounting to thereby change the focal relation between the light source and reflector, and means to cause the light source m0unting and reflector to move as a unit in the tilting movement of the reflector following a predetermined change in the focal relation between the light source and reflector.

9. In a means for controlling the light rays of a reflector lamp, a casing, a tiltable reflector, a bracket adjustably mounted on the casing and provided with an angular-1y related socket member, a lamp socket holder telescopically fitted to the socket member of the bracket and means to tilt the reflector independent of and in unison with the light source.

10. In a means for controlling the light rays of a reflector lamp, a casing, a tiltable reflector, a bracket adjustably mounted on the casing and provided with an angularly related socket member, adapted to normally carry a light source in association with the reflector, means connected to the reflector to tilt the reflector independently and means associated with the reflector to actuate the the light source to actuate the light source and reflector to move together simultaneously.

12. The herein described method for con trolling the rays of light reflected from a tilting reflector, consisting otfirst tilting a reflector independently of a light source to a pre-detern'iined position then moving the light source and reflector in unison as and for the purpose described.

13. In a lamp for motor cars, a casing, a reflector pivoted at the top for tilting purposes, an adjustable bracket attached to the casing, a movable light source supported by the bracket, means to tilt the reflector independently of the light source to a pre-determined position and means to tilt the reflector and move the light source at said predetermined position simultaneously.

In testimony whcreof I ai'iix my signature.

ARTHUR CHARLES WOOD. 

